]]>Measurement: A marketer’s best toolhttps://www.gretemangroup.com/measurement-marketers-best-tool/
Thu, 21 Sep 2017 21:34:41 +0000https://www.gretemangroup.com/?p=24897As the fourth quarter approaches, marketers need to justify spend. And they may be planning for an even leaner year

As the fourth quarter approaches, marketers need to justify spend. And they may be planning for an even leaner year in 2018. Measurement serves as the best strategic weapon to preserve – and possibly boost – marketing budgets.

Greteman Group Digital Director Jordan Walker ensures data drives end-of-year agency reporting. Speaking at the Wichita chapter of the American Marketing Association’s September luncheon, Jordan explained why Google Analytics serves as one of the best resources for reporting on the year’s marketing effort. This free tool delivers 24/7 data on your company website, a key marketing tool.

She asked the sold-out crowd to consider: “How are my marketing tactics working? How is my website performing? Are customers taking the desired actions?”

“Websites can no longer just be glorified brochures,” she said. “They better deliver results.”

Identify Your Goals

Attendee Rachel Douglass, engagement director for the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce, posted on Twitter that she was most interested in defining what true success looks like. Jordan showed that that is indeed the first step. Before diving into Google Analytics and turning data points into measurement, you first must determine your measurement of success.

“Sales and marketing have to come together to create realistic goals,” Jordan said. “As marketers, we need to do the research and identify what actions throughout our customers’ buying journey indicate success.”

Those actions become your goals – anything from website traffic to form fills. Think about what actions lead to converting potential customers into actual ones. Then measure those.

Set Up Your Google Analytics

For Google Analytics to work for you, you have to have it set up on your website. You’d be surprised by how many companies don’t add this simple bit of code to their sites. You also have to tell Google what to measure and understand which of Google’s many data points matter to you.

Telling Google what to measure is simple. There’s a tool for that. The URL builder allows you to input the exact source, medium, campaign and content you needed to identify the corresponding data points in Google Analytics.

Knowing what to measure is more difficult. You’ve heard a high bounce rate is bad. And if you see lots of web visitors leaving after only one or two pages, you may have reason for concern. But, then again, maybe not.

Bounce rate measures single-page sessions – when a user arrives at your website, looks at one page, and then leaves. What if all the information your customer needs is on that one page? A high bounce rate doesn’t matter. What if your customer’s buying journey takes two clicks? Two pages per session might be just what you want – any higher, and your funnel might be an endless circle.

The sold-out crowd, robust Q&A and post-presentation comments confirm there’s a hunger for knowing how to better use metrics in general and Google Analytics in particular.

“I really appreciated the helpful tips Jordan shared that I’ll be able to implement when it comes to making better data-driven decisions,” said Adrienne Clark, market research and SEO specialist at Foulston & Siefkin.

Greteman Group recently launched a new website. When designing the site, we relied on Google Analytics to identify and mitigate any pain points. As a result, our new website offers a clear flow from entry to exit. A funnel for our customers that’s user-friendly, easy-to-follow and that delivers results. Check it out.

]]>By Sonia Greteman, president and creative director at Greteman Group, a marketing communications agency based in Wichita, the Air Capital.

Brands need to evolve just like the organizations and companies they represent. Maybe your services have changed or you have new leadership. Maybe you need to move into new markets and connect with different audiences.

A first step is to take a good hard look at your company vision, mission and values. And, if necessary, develop new ones. I have peers whose eyes glaze over at the thought. Or even when faced with giving them a needed review. I’m the opposite. My eyes dance. I see this as an opportunity. To discover, create and, if necessary, evolve.

One of the Most-Liked and Respected Brands: Southwest

Just to ensure we’re on the same page with these terms, here’s what I mean when talking about vision, mission and values. Southwest Airlines offers great examples of each.

Vision – The why. Describes a desired future state that motivates and inspires your team. It’s rooted in today, but focuses on tomorrow. Use simple, short words that people can remember.

Southwest Airlines: To become the world’s most loved, most flown and most profitable airline.

Mission – The how. Sets forth a clear, compelling goal that is tangible and achievable. It focuses your team’s efforts. It holds you accountable for delivering a consistent customer experience.

Southwest Airlines: Dedication to the highest quality of Customer Service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride and company spirit.

Values – Define your culture and are revealed through time and experience. These guiding principles serve as a basis for actions to fulfill your mission and advance toward your vision. Less is more; strive for a set of three to seven.

Southwest Airlines: Live the Southwest Way

Warrior Spirit

Servant’s Heart

Fun-LUVing Attitude

Work the Southwest Way

Safety and Reliability

Friendly Customer Service

Low Costs

Things Change, So Should You

Our agency’s been in business for close to 30 years. In that time, we evolved through many messaging iterations. Brands should typically be refreshed every five to seven years. Most recently, we based our efforts on Gino Wickman’s Traction system. This highly practical approach breaks down any business to six key components: vision, people, data, issues, process and execution. Vision rightfully serves as the starting place. Wickman likens it to getting your team all rowing – and in the same direction.

To develop your vision, Wickman walks you through some commonsense questions. These force you to really look at your core values, focus, long-term and short-term goals, marketing strategy, issues and quarterly action items (which Wickman, borrowing from Stephen Covey, calls Rocks). This simple, focused process can lead to deep discussions and profound results.

You whittle down and funnel input as part of a purposeful journey. You do less meandering and arrive at your destination faster. Our five-member, agency Traction team did this in two dedicated, full-day sessions. You can download a free worksheet here and do the same yourself.

Value Your Values

One of our most enlightening exercises was in developing our values. Traction again led us through a series of paring down attributes. We started by listing three team members we think could best lead us to market domination. (Aim high, right?) Then we listed the qualities of those people. The list was long. We then edited those down. Combining similar traits. Circling the absolute, most-needed characteristics. We ended with less than seven. We then put them aside. A Traction member did some slight wordsmithing, then the full team reviewed the values a final time to ensure they rang true. They did.

Putting It All Together

Once developed, we take the vision, mission, values and wrap them up into a cohesive manifesto. Here’s ours.

The Greteman Group Manifesto

Give us a challenge. You don’t have to tell us what to do or how to do it. Our band of highly motivated, self-directed pros goes after it. We work independently and collaboratively, passionately and fearlessly, wrestling with ideas until we pin down the best.

We like to succeed, and often do, but how we get there matters. Grace and integrity walk our halls. Transparency generates open and honest conversations.

Each of us brings unique skills that, when combined, make us a powerhouse. Our lifelong learners find joy in their work. When you hear, “I work at Greteman Group,” it packs a punch. You know that person:

Think about whether it’s time to dust off your vision, mission and values. They should uniquely represent your company, not just serve as generic platitudes like “excellent customer service.” Whether you use Traction as we did, just be sure you ask the right questions and that you carve out dedicated think and collaboration time. Set your expectations. Be disciplined. And remember. These messages are not something you simply write down and file. You live them. And they guide your path. You use them as a basis for hiring new team members, setting goals, evaluating performance and more. We used ours to shape a dynamic, new website for ourselves. Check it out to see whether you think we succeeded in following our own advice.

]]>As a friend of the agency, you’ve probably seen GiGi, our alter ego. She brightens everything from our website and proposals to cards and emails. But you may not know much about her, or why she came into being. Let’s change that.

A Here-for-You Approach

GiGi represents a return to first-class service, to the golden age of travel. When customers came first. Go-go boots and a vintage Emilio Pucci uniform give a nod (and a wink) to the very beginnings of the jet set. They’re patterned after Mary Wells’ groundbreaking branding done for Braniff Airlines in the 1960s. Wells rethought not just Braniff’s advertising, but also its uniforms, aircraft liveries, interiors and more. Her campaign, “The End of the Plain Plane,” went deeper than style. Braniff was about more than getting you to your destination. It made the experience great.

Always Learning and Growing

GiGi lives to fly. Stretching her wings. Adding to her already-rich life experiences. She travels the world, hungry for the wisdom only travel brings.
A white scooter helps her zip through city streets. A rocket facilitates interplanetary exploration. She knows marketing from alpha to zulu, tip to tail, cockpit to cabin. GiGi kicks out the chocks, fills up the tanks and elevates brands in the marketplace stratosphere.

Doing What It Takes

GiGi’s propensity for decisive action stems from a bedrock conviction that success takes talent, effort and commitment. That correct beats sloppy. That both the big-picture strategy and supporting details matter. GiGi inspires us to do what it takes to ensure clients get what they want and what they need. On time and on budget. With regular touch bases throughout the process to keep clients always in the know. Always world class.

Let Us Play Among the Stars

We like to think there’s a bit of GiGi’s spirit in everything we do. Whether cool chic or hot happenings. Visit the agency and, while you won’t catch a glimpse of her, you will feel her presence. And, who knows? Together we might see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars.

]]>Sonia Greteman Named to the Junior Achievement Wichita Business Hall of Famehttps://www.gretemangroup.com/greteman-named-to-junior-achievement-wichita-business-hall-of-fame/
Thu, 14 Sep 2017 20:15:47 +0000https://www.gretemangroup.com/?p=24817WICHITA, Kan. – Junior Achievement of Kansas announced its newest Wichita Business Hall of Fame Laureates at a luncheon today.

]]>WICHITA, Kan. – Junior Achievement of Kansas announced its newest Wichita Business Hall of Fame Laureates at a luncheon today. The group will be honored at a tribute dinner in March 2018. It includes Sonia Greteman, president and creative director, Greteman Group; Steve Cox, owner, Cox Machine; and Bob Geist, owner, RAGE, Inc.

Laureates are chosen based on business excellence, entrepreneurial spirit, community impact, leadership style, local influence and enduring legacy. The announcement followed a luncheon attended by past laureates who welcomed the new class of honorees.

“I consider this induction a great honor,” says Greteman. “I hold these fellow entrepreneurs and business people in high esteem. Business builds and fuels community. It sees and realizes what others may miss. It takes guts to see ideas through.

“I was told early in my career, when working as a designer at Boeing Wichita, that I was like fuchsia silk in a gray-flannel world. I took that as a compliment and used my nonconformity to think and act differently. That included launching a woman-owned marketing agency that specialized in a male-dominated industry. Our base in the Air Capital helped make our aviation positioning work, which has allowed us to deepen our impact.”

The complete list dates back to 1986. For that inaugural event, business luminaries honored posthumously include Walter and Olive Ann Beech, Clyde Cessna, Jesse Chisholm, William Coleman, James Davidson, William Greiffenstein and Marshall Murdock.

“In short, our Hall of Fame Laureates include the who’s who of Wichita business,” says Marci Werne, Junior Achievement of Kansas district director. “Our goal is to inspire young people to follow in the laureates’ footsteps. They certainly inspire me.”

Greteman’s long list of personal achievements include a special governor’s appointment, American Advertising Federation lifetime-achievement award, American Marketing Association marketer of the year, Broadcast and Media Professionals hall of fame, Donna Sweet Humanitarian of the Year, Wichita Aero Club founding board member and more. She gives back by serving on multiple industry and community boards.

“Every community hopes to have a creative genius that builds in place, an organization of world renown,” says past Laureate Cindy Carnahan, president, The Carnahan Group. “Someone whose mark is recognized throughout an industry and thus giving distinction back to the place she calls home.”

]]>Automation that Improves and Personalizeshttps://www.gretemangroup.com/automation-improves-personalizes/
Tue, 12 Sep 2017 20:02:06 +0000https://www.gretemangroup.com/?p=24772Call us spoiled. All kinds of products endure an ever-compressed race to market. Never mind the modern marvel of technology

]]>Call us spoiled. All kinds of products endure an ever-compressed race to market. Never mind the modern marvel of technology it may be. It still has to be absolutely right.

Our tolerance for failure is low. Back in 2013, James Surowiecki suggested in The New Yorker’s“Requiem for a Dreamliner?” that it wasn’t that the Boeing 787 Dreamliner’s initial issues were so bad. Especially when compared with the launch challenges of other historic aircraft. But it was that our standards have so radically changed. That dissonance between reality and expectations has only widened.

Expectation of Perfection

This zero tolerance for product refinement extends to services and customer communication, too. The bar keeps getting raised. And are we keeping up?

Customers today expect Amazon.com-like customization. Suggestions informed by past purchases. Record-keeping that facilitates interactions. Fill out a form once and you’re done. Click, order and a quality product soon lands on your doorstep.

If it’s not just what you wanted, slap on a preprinted return label and away it goes. And all along the way, receive updates on orders. Thank you’s for your business. Enjoy anytime-anywhere access to information. All on a first-name basis.

Our patience for businesses without this institutional memory and high level of execution is low. And dropping lower.

Automation to the Rescue

Technology got us here, and it’s our only way out. Automating your communications requires identifying customer engagement points, then coordinating and leveraging efforts to make those interactions as perfect and painless as possible.

Here’s a checklist of actions to take if you haven’t already.

Link sales and marketing departments.

Improve your lead quality by enhancing what goes in.

Invest in a clean, updated, targeted database.

Rank leads with a clear, numeric methodology.

Identify conversion points on your website.

Use responsive design to auto adjust to the media (smartphone, tablet, desktop).

Generate inbound leads rather than relying on buying email lists.

Schedule emails for timed outreach.

Nurture prospects with highly personalized, useful content.

Use auto emails for responses triggered to an action.

Set up online listening and aggregation tools.

Monitor analytics and adjust efforts accordingly.

Budget for ongoing refinement and enhancement.

Deliver magic that’s also reliable and replicable.

Emphasize Long-term Over Quick Fixes

Take your best marketing practices and apply them to how you approach automating your marketing communications campaigns and digital customer touchpoints. Ramp up your speed of execution while reinforcing your commitment to the customer – and to getting it right. You can do it.

]]>NBAA-BACE 2017 Countdownhttps://www.gretemangroup.com/nbaa-bace-2017-countdown/
Wed, 06 Sep 2017 20:09:31 +0000http://gretemangroup.com/?p=24665What tax season is to accountants or Christmas is to North Pole elves, NBAA’s Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition has

]]>What tax season is to accountants or Christmas is to North Pole elves, NBAA’s Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition has long been to Greteman Group. As the days tick off, the activity in our agency continues with a focused intensity. Deadlines that must be hit. Last-minute requests that need to be worked in. Production files to check and check again.

But I’m proud to say, we’re not working around the clock. After almost three decades in the business, we know the drill. And burning out your team accomplishes little. In fact, it’s counterproductive. The cockpit isn’t the only place where mistakes can be tracked to exhaustion. Crew resource management and human factors come into play at a marketing agency, too.

If you plan to be one of the 1,100-plus exhibitors at the 70th annual NBAA-BACE, here’s a simple preshow checklist that might be of help.

Preshow Checklist

Your Outreach

Ads in show dailies – Printer proofs and digital files turned over to the respective publications by, or in advance of, their due dates.

Announcements and press releases – Routed and approved through senior management. Ready to release at the show or, even better, have already sent embargoed releases to key reporters and editors so they can work ahead. Online newsroom updated and maximized for reporters to easily find and secure what they need (including photography and video).

Booth graphics/giveaways/collateral – All double-checked and to the respective vendors with clear shipping/delivery instructions.

Booth staffing – Everyone briefed about show objectives and expectations. Any special apparel secured and badges/buttons produced.

Invites/events – Invitations issued at least three weeks prior to your event. Follow up with a reminder to those who have not yet RSVP’d. If speeches are part of the event, introductions and talking points for each person should be written, routed and approved.

Meetings – Make sure you’ve downloaded NBAA’s free mobile app, for iPhone and Android smartphones. Its interactive exhibit floor plan saves steps as you traverse the seemingly-endless Las Vegas Convention Center. Think through who you need to see and cluster those meetings as much as you can so you’re not running back and forth across the floor.

Social media – Follow @NBAA on Twitter for updates and use the hashtag #NBAA17 to narrow the conversation further. Clearly lay out your content strategy for sharing on your various platforms: Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and blog. Designate who on your team is primarily responsible for writing, taking photos/videos and posting. Give special attention to mobile as show attendees will be checking you out from their smartphones and tablets as well as at your booth.

Technology – Trust no one. Build in redundant systems and IT support to ensure that everything from video displays to Internet connections operate without a hitch.

Your People

Remember please and thank you. Being on deadline makes it more important than ever to maintain common courtesy. You’re in this together.

Keep it professional and solutions-oriented. If upper management starts dictating last-minute changes, breathe deep and plan how you will address them. Can you negotiate for keeping to the previously approved game plan? If not, can you tap into outside manpower to protect your team from massive overtime? Is there middle ground? It’s too late to change your advertising, but new messages can be communicated through the media.

Maintain the relationship. You win the battle but lose the war, if you meet your immediate need but lose your team member’s heart. The show is all about building relationships and selling your product/service through face-to-face interaction. Your team is equally important to your success.

Your Endurance

Attire – Pull out your favorite, most-comfortable shoes. Never, never, never wear new shoes to the show. Rooky mistake. You’ll get blisters and spend a miserable three days hobbling around. Women, leave the stilettos at home. Pumps or flats serve you better. While you see prospective aircraft buyers walking the convention floor or static display wearing any and everything, they can. The rest of us need to dress as though we were in the office. It is a business show.

Energy – Get plenty of rest before the show. You’ll need those reserves. Las Vegas tempts you with its nonstop entertainment. And you will want to tap into that. Don’t overbook yourself when you get home. You will be ready for some R&R.

Attitude – Go into the show expecting great things and you’re more likely to arrive back at the office fortified by deepened relationships and new possibilities. The show will tire you, but it will recharge you, too. It’s great to reconnect with people you may only see face-to-face once a year. It has a reunion feel to it. But there are always new faces, new connections to make.

Once Your Checklist’s Complete, Smile

Nothing’s ever perfect. Nothing’s ever truly done. But that’s why deadlines are such a blessing. You’re forced to move forward. And, come October 10, at 7 a.m. the doors of the Las Vegas Convention Center will open. And another not-to-be-missed NBAA-BACE will begin. See you there.

Blevins, 29, grew up in Valley Center. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Wichita State University. While still in graduate school, she did some of the market research that led to Fidelity Bank’s “Bravely Onward” campaign. She also worked in social and digital media for Cessna Aircraft during its transition into Textron Aviation, then joined “the agency world” with a stint at Copp Media Services.

]]>Digital Strategist Joins Greteman Group Teamhttps://www.gretemangroup.com/digital-strategist-joins-greteman-group-team/
Wed, 30 Aug 2017 14:45:45 +0000http://gretemangroup.com/?p=24417WICHITA, Kan. – Wichita-based marketing agency today announced the addition of a new position to its team, that of digital

]]>WICHITA, Kan. – Wichita-based marketing agency today announced the addition of a new position to its team, that of digital strategist. Shae Blevins steps into the role after serving a broad range of employers with distinction. Prior to joining Greteman Group, Blevins served as digital manager for a leading media-services provider and in the marketing departments of Fidelity Bank, Textron Aviation and Newman University.

On any given day at Greteman Group, you might find Blevins coordinating a digital media plan, building a search campaign, managing social media and email, writing blog content, conducting online research, analyzing results against KPIs, or optimizing a site for search engines. She will do everything from counseling clients on pay per click to managing social-media dashboards.

“I love to collaborate, to be part of a team, and to learn and grow,” says Blevins. “That makes the ever-shifting ground of digital an ideal home for me.”

Blevins holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communication. At every turn, she seems to be adding yet another certification to her arsenal. Google Analytics is the latest. She also finds time for professional development and leadership. She serves on the communications committee of the American Marketing Association Wichita Chapter.

“Shae has such a hunger for knowledge,” says Walker. “Our clients will be the direct beneficiaries.”

]]>Greteman Group to Sponsor the Inaugural DOX Spotlight Competition at the 2017 Tallgrass Film Festivalhttps://www.gretemangroup.com/greteman-group-sponsor-inaugural-dox-spotlight-competition-2017-tallgrass-film-festival/
Wed, 23 Aug 2017 15:52:10 +0000http://gretemangroup.com/?p=23221WICHITA, Kan. – When the Tallgrass Film Association sought out a sponsor for its new juried competition for women-directed, feature-length

]]>WICHITA, Kan. – When the Tallgrass Film Association sought out a sponsor for its new juried competition for women-directed, feature-length documentaries; it turned to woman-owned marketing agency, Greteman Group. President and creative director Sonia Greteman said yes. Immediately.

“Women belong behind the camera as well as in front of it,” says Sonia Greteman. “Our agency’s sponsorship signals our belief in amplifying women’s voices and ensuring more people hear them. Giving emerging directors an elevated platform can launch their careers. Even better, their stories could change the world.”

The DOX Spotlight winner will debut the evening of October 19 at the 15th annual Tallgrass Film Festival, while the rest of the selections will screen throughout the weekend. (Schedule, tickets and information will be available at tallgrassfilmfest.com on September 22.) All finalists will screen as official selections and all three films are eligible for the Audience Award for Best Documentary and a $2,500 cash prize.

“Our hope is that this recognition helps to celebrate the women in the documentary trenches and inspire future female documentarians to record the accomplishments, the issues and real life from a women’s perspective,” says Gretchen Mitchell, Tallgrass co-director of programming.

Tallgrass runs October 18-22 in venues throughout downtown Wichita. Tallgrass is the largest independent film festival in Kansas, evaluating close to 2,000 submissions a year. For the past three years, it has been included in MovieMaker Magazine’s annual, “50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee.” Entries were due June 14. Cash awards totaling $11,000 and other special recognition awards will be given. The greatest award, however, could be the experience itself.

“Time and again I’ve had directors tell me they leave Tallgrass totally energized,” Mitchell says. “Something powerful happens when you gather around film and filmmakers, sharing stories, unique perspectives and passions. It’s why we do this.”

DOX Spotlight eligibility rules state that films can be made by co-directors, but every co-director must be a woman. The project must not have secured any traditional distribution deal at the time of the fest. Films from all countries and all budgets are welcome. The Tallgrass programming committee selects the finalists, all of which will also be screened in regular competition at the festival. A special DOX Spotlight three-woman jury will decide the winning film. It will screen as part of a Tallgrass evening spotlight with a post-screening Q&A with the filmmaker(s) and an awarding of special honors.

The DOX Spotlight three-women jury includes Seattle International Film Festival Artistic Director Beth Barrett, Women Make Movies Executive Director Deborah Zimmerman, and award-winning documentary filmmaker Maisie Crow. The three DOX finalists include Madeleine Gavin’s City of Joy, Skye Borgman’s Forever ‘B’ and Robin Berghaus’ Stumped. You can read more about the filmmakers and their movies, the jurors and the competition on the festival’s website.

Part of Greteman Group’s sponsorship included developing an identity for the new DOX Spotlight competition. The logo includes the classic gender symbol for a female, providing an at-a-glance reinforcement of the competition’s focus. DOX (pronounced “docks”) is expressed in all caps. Orange and fuchsia make the identity pop against a white background. The agency also designed the award. Since 2007, only 4 percent of the top 1,000 movie titles were directed by women. The DOX Spotlight could help change that.

“There’s a young girl out there with a story and a camera,” says Greteman. “Let’s give her some more role models, showing that it can be done.”